Very few people in the modern world obtain their food supply by hunting and gathering in the natural environment surrounding their homes. This method of harvesting from nature’s provision is the oldest subsistence strategy, and has been practiced for at least two million years. It was , indeed, the only way to obtain food until rudimentary farming and the domestication of animals were introduced about 10,000 years ago.
Because hunter-gathers have fared poorly in comparison with their agricultural cousins, their numbers have dwindled, and they have been forced to live in marginal environments such as deserts forest or arctic wasteland. In higher latitudes, the shorter growing season has restricted the availability of plant life. Such conditions have caused a greater independence on hunting, and along the coasts and waterways, on fishing. The abundance of vegetation in the lower latitudes of the tropics, on the other hand, has provided a greater opportunity for gathering a variety of plants. In short, the environmental differences have restricted the diet and have limited possibilities for the development of subsistence societies. Contemporary hunter-gathers may help us understand our prehistoric ancestors. We know from observation of modern hunter-gathers in both Africa and Alaska that society based on hunting and gathering must be very mobile. While the entire community camps in a central location, a smaller party harvests the food within a reasonable distance from the camp. When the food in the area is exhausted, the community moves on to exploit another site. We also notice a seasonal migration on pattern evolving for most hunter gathers, along with a restrict division of labor between sexes. These patterns of behavior may be similar to those practiced by mankind during the Paleolithic Period.
1. With which of the following topics is the passage primarily concerned?
A. The Paleolithic period B. Subsistence farming
C. Hunter-gatherers D. Marginal environment
2. Which is the oldest subsistence strategy?
A. Migrating B. Domesticating animals
C. Farming D. Hunting and gathering
3. The word “rudimentary” is closet in meaning to ……………. .
A. Rough B. preliminary C. ancient D. backward
4. The phrase “in short” can be replaced by ……………….. .
A. In demand B. in want C. shortly D. to cut a long story short
5. The word “abundance” is closet in meaning to ……………… .
A. plenty B. amount C. density D. majority
6. The word “mobile” in the passage can be replaced by …………….. .
A. transportable B. carried C. movable D. portable
7. When was hunting and gathering introduced?
A. 1,000,000 years ago B. 2,000,000 years ago
C. 10,000 years ago D. 2,000 years ago
8. What conditions exits in the lower latitude?
A. Greater dependence on hunting B. More coast and waterways for fishing
C. A shorter growing season D. A large variety of plant life
9. How can we know more about the hunter-gathers of prehistoric time?
A. By studying the remains of their camp sites B. By studying similar contemporary societies
C. By studying the prehistoric environment D. By practicing hunting and gathering
10. Which of the following is not mentioned in the above passage?
A. More and more people in the modern time live on the food they gather in the natural environment
around their homes.
B. The more vegetable in the lower latitude in the tropics there is, the greater opportunity for gathering
plants there are
C. Because of the shorter growing season in higher latitude, the availability of plants is limited.
D. The environmental differences result in restricted diet.
1. With which of the following topics is the passage primarily concerned?
A. The Paleolithic period B. Subsistence farming
C. Hunter-gatherers D. Marginal environment
2. Which is the oldest subsistence strategy?
A. Migrating B. Domesticating animals
C. Farming D. Hunting and gathering
3. The word “rudimentary” is closet in meaning to ……………. .
A. Rough B. preliminary C. ancient D. backward
4. The phrase “in short” can be replaced by ……………….. .
A. In demand B. in want C. shortly D. to cut a long story short
5. The word “abundance” is closet in meaning to ……………… .
A. plenty B. amount C. density D. majority
6. The word “mobile” in the passage can be replaced by …………….. .
A. transportable B. carried C. movable D. portable
7. When was hunting and gathering introduced?
A. 1,000,000 years ago B. 2,000,000 years ago
C. 10,000 years ago D. 2,000 years ago
8. What conditions exits in the lower latitude?
A. Greater dependence on hunting B. More coast and waterways for fishing
C. A shorter growing season D. A large variety of plant life
9. How can we know more about the hunter-gathers of prehistoric time?
A. By studying the remains of their camp sites B. By studying similar contemporary societies
C. By studying the prehistoric environment D. By practicing hunting and gathering
10. Which of the following is not mentioned in the above passage?
A. More and more people in the modern time live on the food they gather in the natural environment
around their homes.
B. The more vegetable in the lower latitude in the tropics there is, the greater opportunity for gathering
plants there are
C. Because of the shorter growing season in higher latitude, the availability of plants is limited.
D. The environmental differences result in restricted diet.